Container closure



1366- 1953 E. c. OLDENBURG CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Nov. 19 1951 Elmer 0.Oldenburg IN VEN TOR.

4 A as l Patented Dec. 8, i953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inreadily openable closures for various types of containers and has moreparticular reference to a closure construction which is highly practicaland satisfactory when used in connection with the neck of a shippingtype milk can.

An object of the invention is to provide a structurally distinct closureconstruction wherein the cooperating members thereof have intimatecooperating relationship with one another, whereby to provide a closurewhich lends itself to rough and haphazard handling while, at the sametime, aifording the desired sealing result.

It is a matter of common knowledge that milk cans are subjected. to allsorts of thoughtless and rough-handling and are not always closedtightly. It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide aclosure which is such in construction that it will faithfully seal thecontents of the can in a manner to exclude dirt and extraneous matter,will not open up accidentally if the can is dropped and will permit thecan to be placed in a cooler or refrigerator during which period theclosure will remain liquid-tight and thus prevent sprayed water or othercoolants from entering the contents of the can.

Then, too, it is a further object of the invention to provide a closurewhich is permanently joined with the neck of the can and to in thismanner prevent loss of the closure and, in addition, to minimize thelikelihood of damage to the cooperating parts of the closure.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a closure constructionwhich is characterized by a relatively stationary foundation memberhaving centered opening surrounded by a flat outstanding shelf-likeledge, and a complemental relatively movable cover member having acentered stopper plugged into and closing said opening, said stopperhaving a surrounding flat lidding surface superimposed upon andimpinging tightly against said ledge, whereby the cooperating surfaceseffect an air-tight seal between themselves.

Novelty is also predicated on a closure of the stated constructionwherein the cover member has a projecting marginal portion overhangingin the corresponding marginal portion of the foundation member andproviding a hand-grip, said hand-grip being provided with aspring-pressed friction retainer which is releasably engageable with thecorresponding marginal portion of the foundation member so as toeffectively lock the cover in a closed position while, at the same time,permitting it to be conveniently opened when hand pressure is applied tohand-grip.

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Other objects and features and advantages will become more readilyapparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a container, a milk can here, providedwith a structurally improved closure constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention showing the cover open;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and elevational view whichis taken approximately on the vertical line 22 of Figure 3, looking inthe direction of the arrows; and

Figure 3 is a similar fragmentary sectional and elevational view takenon the vertical line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Referring now to the drawings, the container, which is here a milk can,is denoted by the numeral 4 and the body portion or container proper isdenoted by the numeral 5 and the usual truncated conical neck by thenumeral 6 and handgrips by the numerals 7-1. It is to be understood, ofcourse. that the closure may be used-with other types of containers butfor convenience is shown used on a milk can.

The aforementioned relatively stationary closure member, the basingportion, is denoted by the numeral 8. It is formed integral with thetruncated end of the neck 6 and is relatively large and generallyrectangular in plan view. This area is such that it overlies underlyingportions of said neck. Member 8 is characterized by a centered circularhole or opening Ill having a beveled or conical surface G2. The openingis encompassed or surrounded by an outstanding horizontal flat portionwhich resembles a shelf and may be conveniently referred to as a shelflike ledge 14. The marginal edge portions of this are provided withupstanding flanges I5, I 8, 20 and 22 forming a rectangular rim. Theflange 22 embodies hinge knuckles 2d cooperating with complementalknuckles 26 on the cover member 28, the knuckles being joined by a pinor the like 30 as shown in Figure 2 and effecting the desired hingeconnection between the cover and basing member. The cover is of an arealextent to completely overlie the basing member 8. It is characterized bya central stopper 32 which is located on the underside and has a beveledperiphery conforming with the conical surface it. This stopper isplugged into the opening in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thestopper is surrounded by a fiat lidding surface 34. The liddin surface34 conforms with the ledge i4 and when the closer is closed saidsurfaces combine in tight superimposed or impinging relationship thuseffecting a double seal between themselves and a further seal betweenthe stopper and opening it. The cover has an overhanging marginal rimportion which is provided with groove means 35 and the rim flanges i 5to 22 fit into the groove means in the manner shown in Figures 2 and 3thus effecting a further seal between the parts. The forward end portionof the cover has a projection which extends well beyond the front flangel8 and provides a hand-grip 38. The underside of the projection isrecessed at 80 to accommodate a coil spring 42 and a fiat plate member44 which constitutes a friction retaining clip. This clip engages theflange E8 in the manner shown in Figure 2 whereby to effectively retainthe cover in closed position While, at the same time, allowing it to beswung open by hand pressure exerted against the hand-grip 38.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size, materials and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to in cooperating in forming an endless marginal rim, and acover member of a size greater than and hingedly connected with saidclosure basing member, the underside of said cover member having acentered stopper removably plugged into said opening, having a fiatlidding surface surrounding said stopper and corresponding to andtightly superimposed on said ledge, and also having marginal groovemeans receiving said flanges, whereby said stopper fitting into saidopening, said cooperating ledge and lidding surface, and flanges fittinginto said groove means collectively effect a satisfactory and sanitaryseal.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein both of said members arerectangular in plan, and said cover member having a projecting marginalportion overhanging the cooperating flange of said basing member andproviding a hand-grip.

'3. The structure defined in claim 2, and said hand-grip being recessedon its underside, and a spring biased friction retainer mounted in saidrecess, said retainer being a flat clip frictionally engaging saidlast-named flange.

ELMER C. OLDENBURG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 89,392 Dwyer Apr. 27, 1869 1,389,495 Erwin et a1. Aug. 30,1921 1,662,399 Rood et al Mar. 13, 1928 1,956,752 Bedle May 1, 19341,977,935 Caldwell Oct. 23, 1934 2,070,905 Justheim Feb. 16, 19372,142,636 Evensen Jan. 3, 1939 2,315,455 Sale Mar. 30, 1943 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 485,880 Great Britain May 26, 1938

